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Stanley Tong

Stanley Tong

Director, producer and writer · Born April 7, 1960 (66) · Hong Kong, China

Stanley Tong Gwai-lai (Chinese: 唐季禮, born April 7, 1960 in Hong Kong) is a film director from Hong Kong. According to IMDb, he customarily attempts stunts himself before asking actors to risk themselves. For example, Jackie Chan's leap from a parking garage roof to a fire escape in Rumble in the Bronx and the finale of Stone Age Warriors. Description above from the Wikipedia article Stanley Tong, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 7, 1960 (66)
From
Hong Kong, China
Works as
Director, producer and writer
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 43 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 22% in 30 days

What are Stanley Tong's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
33%
Self
23%
Bonds
22%
Survival
7%
Ideas
6%
Power
5%
Society
5%
Duty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 8 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
12
Tense
5
Joyful
6
Melancholic
5
Absurd
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Fun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Stanley Tong's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Stanley Tong's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

43 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • 风水天师 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show Creator

  • A Legend(2024)

    Director · Writer · as Investor

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Ride On(2023)

    as Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Stuntmen(2020)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Rising Shaolin: The Protector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Vanguard(2020)

    Director · Executive Producer · Martial Arts Choreographer · Producer · Screenplay · as Customer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Goose Lake(2019)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Long Day's Journey Into Night(2018)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Yoga(2017)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Foolish Plans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Producer

  • Kaili Blues(2015)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • North by Northeast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Producer

  • Chinese Zodiac(2012)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • 志愿者 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Producer

  • Love in the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Producer

  • The Myth(2005)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • DragonBlade(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Flatland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 22 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer

  • 壮志雄心 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 20 episodes · Director

  • China Strike Force(2000)

    Director · Action Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Producer · Stunt Coordinator · Writer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Martial Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 44 episodes · Producer

  • Jackie Chan: My Story(1998)

    Thanks · as Self - Jackie's Favourite Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Magoo(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • First Strike(1996)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Screenplay · Underwater Camera

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Rumble in the Bronx(1995)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Supercop 2(1993)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · Screenplay · Theme Song Performance · as PRC Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Police Story 3: Supercop(1992)

    Director · Martial Arts Choreographer · as PRC Army Instructor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Stone Age Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Treasure Expedition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Iron Angels III(1989)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Iron Angels II(1988)

    Actor's Assistant · Assistant Director · Stunt Coordinator · Stunt Driver

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Let's Rage the Gangland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • A Better Tomorrow II(1987)

    as Young Policeman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Flaming Brothers(1987)

    as Hitman

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Dynamite Fighters(1987)

    as Japanese Agent

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Iron Angels(1987)

    as Thug

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Zen Master 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Happy Ghost III(1986)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Long Road to Gallantry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Winner Takes All? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Red Spell Spells Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Film Crew Member

  • The Black Magic with Buddha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Gun Is Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 42 titles from 1983 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Kung Fu Yoga (2017)

$258M worldwide

Highest rated

Kaili Blues (2015)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Rumble in the Bronx (1995)

Film career

  • 1987Screen debut· Iron Angels
  • 2023Career best· Ride On

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting18 of 42: 13 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting14 of 42: 4 only directing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score34thWriting10 of 42: 1 only writing, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score30thProducing13 of 42: 9 only producing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thOther crew11 of 42: 3 only other crew, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

42 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1980s13 · 11 acting · 2 crew1990s9 · 2 acting · 9 crew2000s7 · 1 acting · 7 crew2010s7 · crew2020s6 · 4 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 22nd · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Stanley Tong's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor, director, writer

A Legend (2024)

70th percentile spread · 42% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Kaili Blues (2015)

Midcredits 91st · 76% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 58/100 and the pacing 41/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Stanley Tong's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 63 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles16–45 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Stanley Tong work with?

People who share at least 2 of Stanley Tong's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Barbie Tung shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers